Virginia Lee (Spain) Anderson

A lifelong Arizona resident, Virginia Spain was born in October 1930 to Tempe residents Carl and Lena Spain. She attended Tempe Normal School, and Tempe Union High School where she met Sylvester (Andy) Anderson, a handsome transplant from Oklahoma. After graduating class of 1948, they married in 1951, which is also the year Virginia graduated Arizona State Teachers College, (now ASU).

Virginia and Andy were blessed with 4 children early in their 69 year marriage. A career teacher, Virginia taught first grade in the Rosevelt school district in Phoenix for 30+ years.

Virginia and Andy were members of Tempe First Baptist Church, where she volunteered in many areas - teaching children in summer Vacation Bible School and Sunday School, harmonizing alto in the church choir for many years, and serving as a Deaconess in caring for the church family. Serving her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was her constant goal. Virginia also joined Andy in the Gideon ministry as an Auxiliary member distributing Bibles to Nursing school graduates.

Close friendships were formed which led to years of group travel adventures such as cruising thru the Panama Canal, visiting Israel, Italy, Equador, seeing much of America from Alaska to Hawaii to New England, and exploring Arizona from corner to corner.

Although Virginia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia at 82, it was an antibiotic resistant bacterial infection in her kidneys that led to her quick demise. She passed peacefully into her Saviors arms on December 7 from her home in Generations in Gilbert’s Agritopia.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the administration and staff at LivGenerations, and Savior Hospice for the loving care given to Virginia for the past 4 years.

Virginia is survived by Sylvester, her husband of 69 years, and children Pam Seaman (Kevin), Suzanne Roderick (Mike), Larry Anderson (Wendy) and David Anderson (Linda), 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and counting...

Lakeshore Mortuary is serving the family. A memorial service is being planned for sometime after the Covid restrictions are lifted.